Written Answers Monday 3 July 2006

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of increased oil prices has been on agricultural output and food costs and, in particular, on costs of (a) petroleum-based fertilisers and chemicals and (b) fuel for agricultural machinery.

Ross Finnie: Agricultural output and food costs are affected by many factors and it is difficult to be precise about the impact of increased oil prices. Between 2004 and 2005, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil increased by 42%. In 2005, fuel and oil costs borne by the agricultural industry accounted for £61.3 million (or 14% of the Total Income from Farming), compared with £49.8 million in 2004 – an increase of 23%. Over the same period the cost of fertilisers and chemicals used by the agricultural industry rose by 1% (£177.5 million to £179.3 million).

Air Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26740 by Tavish Scott on 22 June 2006, what the average saving is in pounds sterling per person on each of the eligible air routes under the Air Discount Scheme, taking account of taxes and charges, and whether these savings are based on any examination of the actual price being paid by individuals.

Tavish Scott: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the latest performance figures on tackling persistent offending, broken down by local authority area, for each year since 2001.

Cathy Jamieson: The figures on persistent youth offending in Scotland were first collated for 2003-04. The statement I made to Parliament on 4 November 2004 made it clear that the 2003-04 youth justice report represented the agreed baseline. Data gathered in previous years cannot be directly compared.

  The 2003-04 report (Bib. number 34397) and 2004-05 report (Bib. number 37302) are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, and include data for every local authority area.

  The 2005-06 performance figures will be published in July 2006.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with HM Treasury about the liability for VAT on infrastructure projects such as the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and, if so, what the outcomes were and whether it will publish them.

Tavish Scott: I have discussed this matter with the Secretary of State for Scotland. We are working with Council partners to appeal HM Revenue and Customs position and Scottish Executive officials are in contact with officials from HM Revenue and Customs.

Voluntary Sector

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the distribution of funding to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and local councils for voluntary service is calculated.

Johann Lamont: The distribution of Scottish Executive funding for the Councils of Voluntary Service (CVS) in Scotland is determined by a formula introduced in 2001 after consultation with the network and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). It provides:

  Each local authority area with between £60,000 and £75,000 per annum;

  Where there is more than one CVS in a local authority area they each receive a share of the funding allocation for their area, and

  A greater share for the Highland area, around £330,000 per annum, in recognition of its rurality and population sparsity and the consequently high number of CVS it requires to support.

  In addition, SCVO is provided with £200,000 per annum to fulfil its role in the development of co-ordination of the network. This award was determined on the basis of a full business case.

  The total level of Scottish Executive funding amounts to just over £3 million, the full amount sought by the network when it submitted its business plan in 2005. This sum represents an increase of more than 30% since the formula was last revised in 2001.

Young Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities achieved a decrease from 4% to 50% in the number of persistent young offenders between April 2005 and April 2006.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested by the member is not yet available. National and local youth justice performance information for 2005-06 will be published in July 2006.

  The data will be included in the 2005-06 youth justice report to be published by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

Young Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and COSLA are now sharing resources, information and best practice to tackle persistent young offending, as outlined by the Minister for Justice in July 2005.

Cathy Jamieson: The police, local authorities, and the Children’s Hearings system have all made clear national commitments to deliver improvements for communities – and for young people themselves. Where agencies have a clear, joined-up vision to reduce youth offending, results are better. I expect all professionals to make effective joint working a priority.

Young Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether PA Consulting, previously employed by Scottish Ministers to validate persistent young offender data produced by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, is being used to validate existing data and, if so, whether ministers are confident that the data produced gives a robust and accurate account of the number of persistent young offenders.

Cathy Jamieson: No – PA Consulting are not currently being employed to validate Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration data. They were engaged between April 2004 and May 2006 to support performance improvement in youth justice agencies at both local and national level.

Young Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies it considers have failed to deliver their commitments in reducing the number of persistent young offenders in the last year.

Cathy Jamieson: All agencies who work with children have a responsibility to contribute to the prevention and reduction of youth offending.

  Key national partner agencies have made clear public commitments about their determination to make the necessary improvements.

  All local authority areas have local youth justice strategic groups who are responsible for identifying the nature and extent of youth crime in their area through youth crime audits, and for matching the range of local service provision to the evidence about service requirements.

  Within that local structure, partner agencies will have their own responsibilities for delivering improvements.

Youth Crime

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has implemented in the Dumbarton parliamentary constituency to tackle youth crime and what funding it has allocated for such policies in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has launched and implemented a range of policy initiatives aimed at preventing, tackling and cutting youth crime across Scotland. These are not broken down by constituency area. For more detail on local strategic and service delivery arrangements in the two local authority areas covered by the member’s constituency, I refer her to the "In Your Area" section of the dedicated youth justice website:

  West Dunbartonshire

  http://www.youthjusticescotland.gov.uk/youthjusticemapping.asp?ID=63.

  Argyll and Bute

  http://www.youthjusticescotland.gov.uk/youthjusticemapping.asp?ID=44.

  Dedicated funding to address youth justice issues began in 2000-01. Youth justice funding arrangements are not broken down by constituency. The following provides details of the principal relevant funding streams, and where possible shows allocations to West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute local authorities:

  GAE Youth Justice Funding

  (to develop capacity in the youth justice system and to support local authorities aiming to meet the national standards for youth justice by March 2006)

  2000-01 - £3.5 million (West Dumbarton – 100,000) (Argyll and Bute- 40,000)

  2001-02 - £5 million (West Dumbarton – 143,000) (Argyll and Bute – 56,000)

  2002-03 - £5 million (+ £3million in-year) (West Dumbarton – 143,000) (Argyll and Bute – 56,000)

  2003-04 - £10 million (West Dumbarton – 286,000) (Argyll and Bute – 112,000)

  2004-05 - £13 million (West Dumbarton – 361,000) (Argyll and Bute – 159,000)

  2005-06 - 2007-08 - £15 million per year (West Dumbarton – 416,000) (Argyll and Bute – 184,000).

  Local Action Fund

  (ASB Strategy - distributed to local authorities in the redetermination order according to the GAE formula)

  2004-05 - 2007-08 - £5 million per year (West Dumbarton 2006-07 – 129,000) (Argyll and Bute – 67,000)

  Programmes for those subject to ASBOs (ASB Strategy -distributed to local authorities in the redetermination order according to the GAE formula)

  2004-05 - 2007-08 - £2 million per year (West Dumbarton – 53,000) (Argyll and Bute – 27,000).

  Funding for restorative justice places (ASB Strategy - distributed to local authorities in the redetermination order according to the GAE formula)

  2001-02 - £2 million (West Dumbarton – 57,000) (Argyll and Bute – 23,000)

  2002-03 - £2 million

  2003-04 - £1.5 million (West Dumbarton – 40,000) (Argyll and Bute – 20,000)

  2004-05 - 2007-08 - £1.5 million per year (West Dumbarton – 40,000) (Argyll and Bute – 20,000).

  Parenting orders (ASB Strategy - distributed to local authorities in the redetermination order according to the GAE formula)

  2004-05 - £1 million for set up (West Dumbarton – 28,000) (Argyll and Bute – 12,000)

  2005-06 - £2 million (West Dumbarton – 53,000) (Argyll and Bute – 27,000)

  2006-07 and 2007-08 - £4 million (West Dumbarton – 103,000) (Argyll and Bute – 53,000).

  National Standards for youth justice (to support local authorities aiming to meet the national standards for youth justice by March 2006 - distributed to local authorities in the redetermination order according to the GAE formula)

  2002-03 - £4.1 million

  2003-04 - £500,000

  2004-05 - £2 million (West Dumbarton – 42,000) (Argyll and Bute – 18,000)

  2005-06 - £6.5 million (West Dumbarton – 156,000) (Argyll and Bute – 87,000)

  2006-07 and 2007-08 - £7.5 million (West Dumbarton – 194,000) (Argyll and Bute – 99,000).

  Youth Crime Prevention Fund

  (to develop capacity in the youth justice system - grant payments to identified relevant local authority/voluntary organisation twice yearly )

  2002-03 - 2004-05 - £10 million

  2005-06 - £2.75 million

  2006-07 - £2.75 million

  2007-08 - £2.75 million

  Intensive Support Fund

  (to develop capacity in the youth justice system - grant payments to relevant local authority/voluntary organisation twice yearly)

  2002-03 - £3.29 million

  2003-04 - £2.18 million

  2004-05 - £2 million

  2005-06 - £1.8 million

  2006-07 - £1.8 million

  2007-08 - £1.8 million

  Intensive Support and Monitoring Services –

  West Dunbartonshire one of seven authorities who are part of phase 1 of implementation.

  2004-05 - £263,000

  2005-06 to 2007-08 - £379,000 per year.